Metro Reviving Plans to Build Housing Over Westlake/MacArthur Park Subway Station
@Buildings R Us: I think you’re wrong. I think if developers were to come and pitch their taller projects to neighborhood councils and made it clear that there’d be a certain percentage of affordable units, the neighborhood councils wouldn’t stand in the way. In other words, you have to show them that there’s something in it for them.
On the other hand, I do know a neighborhood council president who almost single handedly stopped a condo project because he didn’t think they included enough parking. Amazing what happens when people decide to get involved.
Metro Reviving Plans to Build Housing Over Westlake/MacArthur Park Subway Station
@denizen: Totally agree with nbluth and your initial response doesn’t seem like a strong argument. You say LA is broke (and it is) but it is more likely their budgetary priorities are elsewhere. As nbluth succinctly states, we need to shift government subsidies to higher density projects that promote TODs and in return provide much better utilization of our mass transit stations/networks that we are spending BILLIONS on.
Here's the Pacific Design Center Megaproject That West Hollywood Wants to Cancel Now
@BrianSorensen: Interesting point and yes, I can see the irony.
Btw, off topic: Did you see the latest issue of Los Angeles Magazine (Feb 2015)? Your Curbed LA comments (along with Osomatic) made it in the pages. Congrats… =)
Here's the Pacific Design Center Megaproject That West Hollywood Wants to Cancel Now
@BrianSorensen: I love seeing your comments. You literally have no idea what you are talking about and it’s awesome to read your thoughts. Pick a different career.
I try to. In this case, the value proposition for this project is direct access to the entire mass transit network. Living here, you have rail access to the entirely regional area and will only become more appealing as the Expo/Purple/Gold lines finish their projected extensions. The economics here also is that you have a strong housing shortage based on demand and this location is still close enough to downtown LA to attract the downtown market. Also, this project isn’t going to be ready for move-in tomorrow. We are talking more than a year or so before units are available. And what will the environment be like then? You’ll have the Wilshire Grand/Metropolis further built and even completion of the Expo Line!
The only thing really stopping this project is exactly the thing happening in Chinatown/College Station – people don’t like change and when lower-income residents are involved gentrification and affordability become the weapons to publicly strike down urban development and growth opportunities. In other words, our potentials for becoming a vibrant global city is hijacked by the subsidies we allow by suppressing growth for the poor and disadvantaged. This is the WRONG approach as it only shows that place-based opportunities are only as good as the residents who live there dictate the outcome. We have become local fiefdoms and it’s getting worse.
Metro Reviving Plans to Build Housing Over Westlake/MacArthur Park Subway Station
@SotoStation: According to your logic, NIMBYs are retards too!
"Oh there’s a denser taller building being proposed? Not In My Backyard!"
How many times do we get the same shit story over and over again on such issues. Go out there and see the same repeating shit AGAINST development and towers!!!
I have studied up on scale, economics, and LA’s street life and believe me, nobody’s an expert.
So as a RETARD yourself, you may want to add to your short little list…
1. URBAN economics (and not just Economics)
2. Transportation history
3. The role of the planning commission
I can go on and on, but it’s more than just a shit list of scale, economics, and LA street life. It’s all of that plus so much more…